went into Egypt, and is said by some to have had conferences with the gymnosophists of India. But while thus employed abroad, his presence began to be greatly wanted at home. All parties conspired to wish his coming. And many messages were sent to hasten his return. The kings themselves importuned him to that effect, and let him know, that the people were arrived at such a pitch of disorder, that nothing but his authority could controul their licentiousness. In fact, every thing tended to the unavoidable destruction of the state, and nothing but his presence was wished to check its increasing dissolution.

Lycurgus at length persuaded to return, found the people wearied out with their own importunities, and ready to receive any new impressions he might attempt. Wherefore the corruption being general, he found it necessary to change the whole form of the government; sensible that a few particular laws would produce no great effect. But considering the efficacy of religion in promoting every new institution, he went first to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphos, where he met a reception, that might flatter his highest ambition, for he was saluted by the priestess as the friend of the gods, and rather as a god than man. As to his new institution also, he was told that the gods heard his prayers, and that the commonwealth he was going to establish, would be the most excellent and durable upon earth.

Thus encouraged, in his return to Sparta, Lycurgus first communicated his designs to his particular friends, and then by degrees gained over the leading men to his party, until things being ripe for a change, he ordered thirty of the principal men to appear armed in the market-place. Charilaus, who was at that time king, seemed at first willing to oppose this revolution, but being intimidated by a superior force, he took shelter in the temple of Minerva; whence, being prevailed upon by his subjects, and being also of a flexible temper, he came forth and joined the confederacy. The people soon acquiesced under a set of institutions which were evidently calculated for their improvement, and gladly acknowledged submission to laws which leaned with equal weight upon every rank of society.

To continue the kings still with a shadow of power, he confirmed them in their right of succession as before, but diminished their authority by instituting a senate, which was to serve as a counterpoise between their prerogative and the people. They still; however, had all their former

marks of outward dignity and respect. They had the chief seats in every public assembly; in voting they were allowed first to give their opinion; they received ambassadors and strangers, and overlooked public buildings and highways, In the field they were possessed of greater power; they conducted the armies of the state, and were attended by judges, field-deputies, and a general of the horse. However, they were not entirely at liberty even in war, as they received their orders from the senate, which, though for the most part discretionary, yet they were sometimes forced to march against the enemy, or return home when they least desired to retreat.

The government hitherto had been unsteady, tending at one time towards despotism, at another to democracy, but the senate instituted by Lycurgus served as a check upon both, and kept the state balanced in tranquillity. This body, which was composed of twenty eight members, founded their chief policy in siding with the kings when the people. were grasping at too much power; and on the other hand, in espousing the interest of the people whenever the kings attempted to carry their authority too far. The senators were composed of those who assisted Lycurgus in his designs, as well as of several of the citizens remarkable for their private virtues ; but none were eligible till sixty years of age. They were continued for life, except upon any notorious crime; and this, as it prevented the inconveniences of too frequent a change, so it was a lasting reward to the old, and a noble incentive to the young. These formed the supreme court of judicatures; and though there lay an appeal from them to the people, yet as they were only convened at the pleasure of the senate, and as the senators were not responsible for any wrong judgment, their decrees generally past without a repeal. Indeed, for several ages, such was the caution and such the integrity of this tribunal, that none seemed desirous of seeking farther justice, and both parties acquiesced in the justice of their decree. Ilowever, the great power which the senate was thus possessed of, was about a century after tempered by the erec⚫tion of a superior court, called the court of the Ephori, which consisted of but five in number, and the members were chosen annually into their office. They were elected from the people, and had a power of arresting and imprisoning even the persons of their kings, if they acted unbecoming their station.

The people also had a nominal share in the government. They had their assemblies consisting of citizens on

ty; and also their great convention of all persons who were free of the state. But this power of convening was but a mere matter of form, as the senate alone was permitted to call them together, and as it was in the option of that body to dismiss them at pleasure. The subject of deliberation also was to be of their proposal, while the people, denied the privilege of debating or discussing, could only reject or ratify with laconic decision. To keep them still more helpless, they were left out of all offices of the state, and were considered merely as machines, which their wiser fellow-citizens were to conduct and employ.

So small a degree of power granted to the people might be apt to destroy these institutions in their infancy; but to reconcile them to the change, Lycurgus boldly resolved to give them a share in those lands of which, by the increasing riches of some, and the dissipation of others, they had been deprived. To keep the people in plenty and dependence, seems to have been one of the most refined strokes in this philosopher's legislation. The generality of the people were at that time so poor, that they were destitute of every kind of possession, whilst a small number of individuals were possessed of all the lands and the wealth of the country. In order, therefore, to banish the insolence, the fraud, and the luxury of the one, as well as the misery, the repining, and the fac tious despair of the others, he persuaded the majority, and forced the rest to give up all their lands to the commonwealth, and to make a new division of them, that they might. all live together in perfect equality. Thus all the sensual goods of life were equally distributed among the governors and the governed; and superior merit alone conferred superior distinction.

Lycurgus accordingly divided all the lands of Laconia into thirty thousand parts, and those of Sparta into nine thousand, and these he portioned out to the respective inhabitants of each district. Each portion was sufficient to maintain a family in that frugal manner he proposed; and, though the kings had a larger share assigned them to support their dignity, yet their tables had rather an air of decency and competency, than of superfluity or profusion. It is said that some years after, as Lycurgus was returning from a long journey, observing how equally the corn was divided in all parts of the country, he was heard to observe, smiling on those next him, Does not Laconia look like an estate which several brothers have been dividing amongst them?

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But it would have answered no permanent purpose to divide the lands, if the money were still suffered to accumulate. To prevent, therefore, all other distinction but that of merit, he resolved to level down all fortune to one standard. He did not indeed strip those possessed of gold or silver of their property; but, what was equivalent, he cried down its value, and suffered nothing but iron money to pass in exchange for every commodity. This coin also he made so heavy, and fixed at so low a rate, that a cart and two oxen were required to carry home a sum of ten minas, or about twenty pounds English, and a whole house was necessary to keep it in. This iron money had no currency among any other of the Grecian states, who, so far from esteeming it, treated it with the utmost contempt and ridicule. From the neglect of foreigners, the Spartans themselves began to despise it, so that money was at last brought into disuse, and few troubled themselves with more than was barely sufficient to supply their necessities. Thus not only riches, but their attendant train of avarice, fraud, rapine, and luxury, were hanished from this simple state: and the people found in ignorance of riches a happy substitute for the want of those refinements they bestow.

But these institutions were not thought sufficient to prevent that tendency which mankind have to private excess. A third regulation was therefore made, commanding that all meals should be in public. He ordained that all the men should eat in one common hall without distinction; and lest strangers should attempt to corrupt his citizens by their example, a law was expressly made against their continuance in the city. By these means frugality was not only necessary, but the use of riches was at once abolished. Every man sent monthly his provision to the common stock, with a little money for other contingent expences. These con

sisted of one bushel of flour, eight measures of wine, five pounds of cheese, and two pounds and an half of figs. The tables consisted of fifteen persons each, where none could be admitted but by the consent of the whole company. Every one, without exception of persons, was obliged to be at the common meal; and a long time after, when Agis returned from a successful expedition, he was punished and reprimanded for having eaten with his queen in private. The very children eat of these meals, and were carried thither as to a school of temperance and wisdom. At these homely repasts no rude or immoral conversation was pernitted, no loquacious disputes or ostentatious talking. Each

endeavored to express his sentiments with the utmost perspicuity and conciseness; wit was admitted to season the banquet, and secrecy to give it security. As soon as a young man came into the room, the oldest man in company used to say to him, pointing to the door, 'Nothing spoken here must go that way.' Black broth was their favorite dish, of what ingredients it was made is not known, but they used no flesh in their entertainments. It probably resem bled those lenten soups which are still in use on the continent. Dionysius, the tyrant, found their fare very unpalatable; but as the cook asserted, the broth was nothing without the seasoning of fatigue and hunger.

An injunction so rigorous, which thus cut off all the delicacies and refinements of luxury, was by no means pleasing to the rich, who took every occasion to insult the lawgiver upon his new regulations. The tumults they excited were frequent; and in one of these, a young fellow whose name was Alexander, struck out one of Lycurgus' eyes. But he had the majority of the people on his side, who, provoked at the outrage, delivered the young man into his hands to treat him with all proper severity. Lycurgus, instead of testifying any brutal resentment, won over hisaggressor by all the arts of affability and tenderness, till, at last, from being one of the proudest and most turbulent men of Sparta, he became an example of wisdom and moderation, and an useful assistant to Lycurgus in promoting his new institutions.

Thus, undaunted by opposition, and steady in his designs, he went on to make a thorough reformation in the manners of his countrymen. As the education of the youth was one of the most important objects of a legislator's care, he took care to instil such early principles, that children should in a manner be born with a sense of order and discipline. His grand principle was, that children were properly the possession of the state, and belonged to the community more than to their parents. To this end he began from the very time of their conception, making it the mother's duty to use such diet and exercise as might fit her to produce a vigorous and healthy offspring. As during this period, all institutions were tinctured with the savageness of the times, it is not wonderful that Lycurgus ordained that all such children, as, upon a public view, were deemed deformed or weakly, and unfitted for a future life of vigor and fatigue, should be exposed to perish in a cavern near mount Taygetus. This was considered as a public punishment upon the